OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to address the House of Commons at 11:00 a.m. ET on Monday about the fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta that killed four Canadian Armed Forces members and injured 39 others on Saturday.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued an advisory on Sunday confirming the House statement, following Carney’s remarks from Ottawa that evening in which he called the incident one of the worst peacetime tragedies for the Forces on Canadian soil.
“Yesterday afternoon, a violent, fast-moving fire swept through the Canadian Armed Forces Base in Wainwright, Alta,” Carney said in his Oct. 18 statement. “What followed was one of the worst tragedies for the Forces on Canadian soil in peacetime.”
Carney confirmed that flags on all federal buildings will be flown at half-mast to honour the fallen.
The Department of National Defence confirmed on Oct. 18 that four members lost their lives during a fire-related training incident at approximately 4 p.m. MDT on Oct. 17, 2026. The members were:
– Sergeant Morgan Wong, of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, based in Edmonton, serving with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
– Private Shaun Farrell, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton
– Private Aidan Goulding, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton
– Private Hayden Lykkemark, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton
Two of the fallen soldiers were from British Columbia. Pte. Goulding was from North Vancouver and Pte. Lykkemark was from Langley. Pte. Farrell was from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and Sgt. Wong was an Edmonton-based reservist.
DND confirmed that 39 other Canadian Armed Forces members sustained injuries in the incident. Alberta officials told reporters at an Oct. 18 briefing in Edmonton that 39 people received medical care, including 19 in critical condition.
The soldiers were members of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group conducting live-fire training as part of Exercise APOLLO SHOOTER when the fire began. According to National Defence, high wind speeds enabled the fire to grow and spread very rapidly, overtaking the unit’s administrative area.
Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, told reporters that a grass fire had been burning for some time and was considered far enough away for training to continue. He said that when the wind shifted, flames moved a kilometre in about 30 seconds and overwhelmed the soldiers. Wind gusts reached up to about 100 kilometres per hour.
Rutland said the cause of the fire is under investigation and it could take weeks to determine. A formal board of inquiry will probe the incident and the response. Defence Minister David McGuinty said there were no indications of terrorist activity.
Carney also praised the coordination between all levels of government, saying he has been in regular contact with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith since Saturday evening.
“The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our Armed Forces whom we have lost,” Carney said. “We are praying for the wounded. And we stand in solidarity and compassion for the families, friends and colleagues of all those affected by this tragedy.”
This story is a follow-up to our Oct. 18 coverage confirming fatalities in the CFB Wainwright training area fire. Apna News will continue to update this developing story as more details are confirmed by officials.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office
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